President Donald Trump’s appearance at the US Open men’s final on Sunday sparked a polarized response, with loud boos overshadowing scattered cheers at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The visit, his first to the tournament since 2015, also caused significant disruptions, delaying the highly anticipated match between Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz and Italy’s Jannik Sinner by 30 minutes due to enhanced Secret Service security measures. Long lines of frustrated fans, some waiting over an hour, faced airport-style screenings, leaving many upper-tier seats empty well into the match.

Trump, dressed in a suit and red tie, emerged from a Rolex suite 45 minutes before the match, greeted by a mixed crowd reaction in the half-empty stadium. His brief wave, unannounced, went unnoticed by some. During the National Anthem, his salute on the jumbotron drew louder boos, met with a smirk and a raised fist after the first set, amplifying the jeers.

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The United States Tennis Association (USTA) had urged broadcasters to avoid airing crowd reactions, citing a policy against showcasing “off-court disruptions,” a move criticized as censorship by some observers.

Attending as a guest of Rolex—despite his administration’s 39% tariff on Swiss goods—Trump was joined by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and others, including Jared Kushner and granddaughter Arabella. The president, a frequent attendee of major sporting events like the Super Bowl and UFC fights, remained engaged in conversations, rarely applauding key plays.

No major protests materialized, but attendees avoided MAGA hats, with one fan deliberately choosing a fuchsia cap to distance herself from Trump’s signature style.

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